Securitization of Undocumented Migrants and the Politics of Insecurity in Malaysia

Abstract

Abstract Despite of strict policies implementation since late of 1980s, issue of influx of undocumented migrants has been a continuing concern for the Malaysian government. As the problem has been gradually securitized and reconstituted as a security issue symbolized by the conduct of massive operasi accompanied by a volunteer-based paramilitary force known as People s Volunteer Corps (RELA), the status of undocumented migrants in Malaysia has become a problem for maintaining human security. While increasing insecuritization of the plight of undocumented migrants under the fear of operations in Malaysia, there is frequently alleged rhetoric of the sukarelawan (volunteer) which has been functioning to legitimize the brutality caused by RELA personnel during the operations. Moreover, at the back of emphasizing threat of undocumented migrants and making progress in expanding its registered members as well as organizational authority, RELA has been utilizing the condition of insecurity, particularly with the correlation of election strategy pursued by the ruling party coalition called Barisan Nasional, being questioned for functioning as a political machine to collect wider supports in order to maintain regime security by major opposition parties.